Very sick kitty & CBDs

[CountAllVotes]

My dear dear kitty has been sick since August. I've taken her to numerous places trying to find out what is wrong with her and no vet where I live can figure out what is wrong.

It seems to be neurological (just my luck!).

I had to renew my 215 card today and told my doctor about my beloved kitty and she recommended that I use a salmon oil tincture made with CBDs in it as the doctor thinks it is a brain problem as well (circling behavior, staggering, etc.).

Anyway, I went to the dispensary and they had the salmon oil tincture for pets and I gave her a 1/2 of a dropper of it today.

I'll let you know how this works out for her.

Lets hope to god it helps her as this is a horrible thing going on here and it is making me sick as well as the shingles keep recurring and I'm sure I've been posting some things that might not be too Clintonesque so to speak and my apologies if I have offended anyone (I"m at the end of my damn rope I'll admit and sad as can be).

If anyone has any ideas on how to treat cats with CBDs let me know (other than a salmon oil tincture). The tincture is about $20 a bottle so its not too pricey.

Thanks for reading this post and please keep my dear ultra-sweet kitty Ms. Julie in your thoughts and prayers if you believe in such. Many thanks again.



Cross-post in the Cannabis group.

[yellerpup]

1. Wishing Ms. Julie and CAV will feel better soon!

So sorry you and Ms. Julie have been suffering. I would SO change that if I could. Take care.

[CountAllVotes]

3. Thanks yellerpup

and osiyo and thank you for your kind thoughts.

No new news today and she is not eating much at all.

Thanks again.

[yellerpup]

4. Went looking for a photo to cheer you up

and now I can't find it! Arrgh! Keep up the salmon oil therapy and maybe she'll respond well to it. Hopefully sooner than later.

[shenmue]

2. Dr. Tinycat prescribes eeeeextra cuddles n kisses

[hamsterjill]

5. Probably a dumb question here, but a question just the same.

Two questions, actually.

Have they checked her inner ears? I've had a cat with vestibular disease that staggered and walked in circles. easily treated with antibiotics.

Have they tested for histoplasmosis? Yes, I've been there, as well, with some of the same symptoms.

[CountAllVotes]

6. The vet I took her to last week checked her ears

Ears were clear. Blood work is normal. Nothing shows up at all is what the story is. I don't know about histoplasmosis, but said cat is an indoor cat and does not hunt so I think that can likely be ruled out.

I have two other cats and they are doing just fine.

Re: the CBD Salmon oil 1:20 = could be helping!
She meowed twice today for the first time since late March.
She is eating more now too.
Maybe the CBD w/salmon is giving her an appetite I can only hope.

We're going to go on with this through the weekend and if things aren't better by Monday a decision will have to made as she appears raggedy and has lost quite a bit of weight.
She was a solid 12-1/2 lb. cat in her day mostly and now, I'd be surprised if she weighed in at 9 lbs. perhaps.

This is so very sad.

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas.

[hamsterjill]

7. Sending prayers and positive vibes

I had a cat that was indoor only and became ill. Spent a small fortune before finally finding a vet that suspected histo. Cat must've gotten it long before coming to me and had harbored it until her immune system could no longer defeat it.

I wish you and your kitty the very best. It IS sad. I can tell this one is greatly loved, and as a rescuer myself, I am always grateful to see that.

Peace and comfort.

[CountAllVotes]

8. yes she is very special

I've had several hospitalizations since I got her. At times (esp. when I had a colostomy bag on me), there were no friends nor calls, just kitty Julie at my side which was all the love one could hope for.

She was sick when I got her as a stray feral kitten and I spent a lot of $ on her at that time trying to find out what was wrong and finally did. She grew up to be a very sweet cat and just the thought of not having her around guts me out.

So, yeah, I'm taking this one real hard.

Poor sweet Julie.

[CountAllVotes]

9. I am devastated

She is gone now.

Her last day alive was June 9, 2016.

There will never be another one quite like her as she was my very special girl.

Thanking everyone here for their support and no, it was never discovered why she got sick and is now gone.

A horrible sadness fills the air and I hear her crying at times as she hasn't quite left yet as she wasn't ready to go, alas, another one gone too soon.

And now this murder in Florida to ice the cake of grief. It is all too damned much for me.

[Judi Lynn]

10. So very sorry, CountAllVotes. Was hoping it would go better for you and Julie.

There's nothing like the friendship these good friends bring us.

Without a doubt they know they are loved, as well.

She's not suffering now, and that's worth a lot.

Best wishes.

[CountAllVotes]

11. Thank you Judi Lynn

Last edited Wed Jun 15, 2016, 02:50 AM - Edit history (1)

The other two cats I have (brothers they are) are looking all over for her. One was crying in the garage almost all night calling her to no avail.

She is buried in the backyard with the other cats and dog I had.

I think I have found out the culprit that got her.

It is called vestibular disease. It speaks of the circling behavior, head tilt, vomiting, etc. They do not know what causes vestibular disease and it often resolves (which it did for several months it seems but came back with a deadly force which they do not mention).

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/feline-vestibular-disease/6509

Seems no real treatment for it either but does mention the link to respiratory distress.

It is so very sad not having Julie around anymore to love. I miss her chirps and chatter and just her very sweet self.

Thanks again Judi Lynn for your support throughout Julie's long illness.

It means more than you'll ever know.

***********************

MORE here that has been cross-posted in the cannabis group:

My poor sweet girl is gone

She fell violently ill Friday night and had to be put down as she was vomiting non-stop and it looked like blood. She had grown weak and was maybe 7 lbs. at the most.

I'm a mess needless to say for she had been with me through thick and thin, bedridden ---> recovery.

I'll never know if I did enough, did the right thing, did the wrong thing or what.

I think I found the name of what was ailing poor sweet Julie - vestibular disease which is found in both cats and dogs.

This vestibular disease is horrific, like something out of a bad nightmare.

>>What causes it?

We do not fully understand why feline vestibular disease occurs in many cases. Conditions such as middle- and inner-ear infections are common causes of the disease. Tumors are a less common cause but must be considered, especially in older cats. Exposure to certain toxins or drugs can also cause symptoms that mimic feline vestibular disease. The vast majority of cases are diagnosed as idiopathic, meaning the exact cause isn't known.

The cause of feline vestibular disease is not fully understood.

Siamese and Burmese breeds have been associated with an inherited or congenital form of the disease. Many affected cats are also deaf.

Note: Julie was a stray domestic short haired cat, certainly not a Siamese nor a Burmese but this is interesting info. in any event.

and ...

>>The signs of vestibular disease in cats can be quite alarming to owners, who often believe their feline friend is having a stroke. These signs include:

Vocalizations that may sound anguished
Rolling around on the floor
*A head tilt to one side
Nystagmus, or eyes that oscillate back and forth
*Leaning against walls or furniture in order to walk
*Falling down
*Vomiting
*Seeming "out of it"

* = symptoms Julie had that make me think she had vestibular disease

Sometimes, if both ears are affected, the head may not be tilted much and the kitty may not want to move at all. Affected cats are most certainly as puzzled by these sudden occurrences as we are.

My poor girl was scared to death and my other two cats that are brothers began to groom her and lick her head as they knew she was very ill. They do not understand where she went and are still crying for her. Otherwise the silence around here is deafening.

Note: Julie came to me from the local shelter and was very sick and managed to conceal it. I got home with her and that first night she was vomiting up some sort of large parasite and was sneezing. She was so excited about being adopted that she attempted to hide these problems from me but I figured it out pretty fast after that first night.

The shelter told me to bring her back and pick out another kitten. I told them no way as I knew they'd put her down if I were to take her back there. I isolated her from the other two cats I had at that time and they managed to contract the respiratory illness but did recover from it fortunately. That was 10 years ago almost. I stuck it out with her and it seems she had some sort of unidentifiable parasite living inside of her and after months of treatments, it was finally a broad spectrum wormer used on cattle and horses that killed the mysterious parasite.

She grew up to be a fine, beautiful cat, a tuxedo tabby is what she was. She had delicate white paws and a white tuxedo for a chest. She was a loving sweet cat that used to talk to you and chirp. When she was ultra-happy, she used to whistle at you believe it or not.

I miss her so and feel very alone and rather desperate I must admit.

Thanks for the comments/ideas and help. I do appreciate it.

***********

Hope this info. helps someone else out there with a sick animal with similar symptoms to what I have just witnessed (hell frozen over is what it has been).

May poor sweet Julie Rest In Peace.

[Judi Lynn]

16. Don't second guess yourself about anything that happened. It's so good you cared so much for Julie.

Clearly she loved her home with you, and her two friends without a doubt helped her feel even more accepted.

Thanks for including your other post. Deeply moving.

Please believe you'll come through this fine, and one day it really won't hurt the same, even though you'll continue to love and miss such a fine friend.

[Fla Dem]

12. So sorry your beloved little girl is gone.

You gave her much love and she gave it back to you. That's all we can ask of our fur babies. I just lost one of my girls after 8 years, so I know the sadness and sense of loss you're going through. I'm still looking at her favorite places to see if she's there. Keep her in your heart and smile when you think of her. She would want you to.

[CountAllVotes]

13. It is so difficult

Having to put a beloved pet down is horrible. However, she was in horrible shape at the end. There was nothing that could have been done.

Luckily she fell violently ill Friday at 5:00 p.m. The vet is open until 7:00 p.m. now and I was able to get her there before they closed for the weekend.

That was just like her, never one to be in the way or one to cause any sort of disruption. Always kind, loving and accommodating right up until the very end of her too short of a life. She lived for 10 short years. I was expecting she'd last for 15+ years as my other female cats had lived to be 17 and 18 years respectively. It didn't work out that way. Nope.



My poor sweet girl is gone.

Thank you.

[irisblue]

14. I am so sorry for your loss

I had to help Princess Peanut over to the Rainbow Bridge. They leave such large holes in our lives
.. (Julie)

[CountAllVotes]

15. I know

and they leave even bigger holes in our hearts it seems.

Devastated. Absolutely.

When do the tears stop? It was truly horrible.

Had I known what a monster I was dealing with called vestibular disease, I would not have never allowed it go on as long as I did. Damn idiot vets! You'd think THEY WOULD KNOW wouldn't you? What poor Julie went through the last 10 months of her life must have been a frightening hell.

[hamsterjill]

17. I am so sorry for your loss.

Please see my post # 5 above. I've been through vestibular disease as I indicated.

Fortunately, the vet I was using was familiar with it and was able to treat it quickly.

I grieve with you, and I wish you only peace and comfort. Thank you for loving her as you did.

[CountAllVotes]

18. It is treatable?

Last edited Fri Jun 17, 2016, 04:17 PM - Edit history (1)

I never got this as an official DX, I figured it out. She probably did have it her entire life as I mention the problems she had when I first got her from the shelter in 2006. Could she have been born with this?

It is the saddest damned thing I've ever seen in my life.



I hope to god it is not contagious. The other two cats I have do not go outside or hunt either. They are about 3 years old and have never been sick and are tomcats.

HOWEVER, I spent $500 on a complete blood work up and it showed nothing except that she may have been exposed the Corona Virus at some point in her life. Her gums were pink and her teeth were fine. Her ears were clear as were her lungs even though she had had a respiratory something or the other. Furthermore, she could not meow nor purr anymore I'd noted.

I also ended up have a complete set of x-rays done and they showed nothing either. This was two weeks before she died.

I just don't know what to think as there are not a lot of birds or bird droppings nor bats where I live which is in the pacific northwest not far from the sea.

The vet that x-rayed her wanted to do a post-mortem autopsy on her and I told him NO, no one is going to cut my kitty up! NO!

WHO THE HELL KNOWS WHY MISS JULIE DIED?

[hamsterjill]

19. In my own situation -

First of all, there are two separate issues on my original post. One being vestibular disease and the other being histoplasmosis (which is where the bird droppings come into play).

I do cat rescue, so I've seen a lot.

As to vestibular disease:

I had a relatively young cat (about six months) that started shaking her head badly, was vomiting and was literally crawling around in circles. I thought she'd had a seizure of some sort. Ran her to the ER vet (who is a researcher) who immediately recognized vestibular disease. This cat got regular antibiotics (clavamox, if I remember correctly) and was massively improved within 48 hours. The cat is now five years old and has never had another issue (knock on wood).

The symptoms you mentioned made me think of my own situation, and that's why I mentioned it.

As to histoplasmosis:

I had a cat that just started losing weight. Every vet that I took her to thought she had dry-form FIP, but I just didn't think that was what she was suffering from, so I kept going. Took her to this same ER vet researcher who did an aspirate of her spleen, sent that to Texas A&M, and it came back as positive for histoplasmosis. At that time (which was about seven years ago) histo in Texas was practically non existent, and vets didn't know to look for it. It has become more commonplace in our area and more vets are aware of it at this point. I merely mentioned this because of that fact (i.e., that it's rare and many vets simply don't know to even consider it). Histo can have varying symptoms depending on the area of the cat's body that is affected. Histo can never be cured, but it can be managed if diagnosed properly and caught early enough. In my case, the cat lived about six years by taking fluconazole daily. She had a good quality of life until about the last year when she became blind, and ultimately started getting other issues because her poor little body just couldn't battle any more, and I let her go back in February.

Letting one go is without a doubt THE most difficult thing I have ever or will ever face, but I've learned that it is about quality of life; not quantity, and when one gets to a point that it is suffering with no hope of recovery and better days ahead, it is time to let them go.

If I were in your shoes, I would trust what your vets did. They are the experts and they tried to help your kitty. I'm sure that if your kitty had vestibular disease that they would have recognized it and helped her, or else if that didn't happen, the disease must've been too far advanced for the vets to do anything. You obviously did your very best, as well. I had merely mentioned these two illnesses earlier in the post as I said to bring awareness about them. It is never a good idea to second guess. But the more informed any and all of us are - the better we can help them.

I truly mean it when I wish you peace and I wish you comfort. It is devastating to lose them. You'll have to trust me on that one because my rescue specializes in older, infirm cats and loss is a major part of what we do. Doesn't matter how old or how sick, though. A loss is still a loss if you allow yourself to love them. And if you DON'T allow yourself to love them, then you don't need to be involved with them.

I hope when the time is right for you - and only YOU can know when that time might be - that you will consider adopting another needy kitty from a rescue or shelter. Pet parents such as yourself are the dream candidate for all of us in rescue, etc.

[CountAllVotes]

20. Thank you for all that you do

I have great respect for people like you.

I suppose I'll never know what finished her off.

[shenmue]

21. I am very sorry

[CountAllVotes]

22. Thanks shenmue

It has been just over a week ago now and I don't feel any better at all.

I ordered a headstone for her resting place in the backyard and it arrived yesterday. That made it seem a bit more real but my god ...

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